I've got a ton of newbie questions...

[jattea]

I've been searching for my first boat for a few weeks now (something in the 24'-26' range, midcabin cruiser). My family has always had boats, but I've never owned one. None of my friends own one either, so I'm missing some very basic knowledge that would be useful.

As I've been looking, I have been writing down basic questions on a notepad, and now I'm bringing them here.

I hope you folks don't mind answering a few stupid newbie questions...

1) Does operating a boat automatically recharge the battery?

2) How do you tow a boat / get towed if you lose power at sea? Who would you call to help tow you in?

3) Must you call US/Canada customs if you're at risk of crossing the water border, even if you don't intend to land/disembark in Canada?
(I'm in Buffalo)

4) What do I do if I get caught in bad weather?

5) What do I do if I bottom out?

6) Can you anchor in fast moving water? When CAN'T you anchor?

7) Do I need to take a course to get licensed in New York?

8) How do you boat at night? Do boats come with headlights?

9) What are the typical controls at the helm, and how do you work them properly?

10) Does the fridge work at sea?

11) Why do many drives have two propellers on the shaft?

12) The last time I was at a marina, I saw a powerboat spitting water out of a small hole in the hull. What was that?

13) Is there a water heater for faucets and the shower?

14) Am I allowed to drink a beer while piloting the boat (not get drunk obviously). If I'm spotted drinking a beer while at the helm by the authorities, am I in trouble?

15) What are trim tabs?

16) What is a bilge / bilge pump?

17) What knots do I need to know?

18) Where does the water from the sinks and the shower go?

19) Do boats have normal household ac outlets?

20) I've heard it's a good idea to pack spare fuses. How would i know if I had a bad fuse, and how would i know which fuse to replace?

okay, I'm going to stop at twenty. Thanks so much to anyone who is generous enough to help a novice out...

Jonathan
Buffalo, NY

 

[ezmobee]

Re: I've got a ton of newbie questions...

I'll tackle some I know:

1) Does operating a boat automatically recharge the battery? Typically yes

2) How do you tow a boat / get towed if you lose power at sea? Who would you call to help tow you in? There are tow services in major boating areas. BoatUS and Sea-Tow are the biggies.

8) How do you boat at night? Do boats come with headlights? A boat should come equipped with the navigation lights you need. A white light on the stern and red/green lights on the bow.

10) Does the fridge work at sea? There are 12V fridges so I'm sure it does.

11) Why do many drives have two propellers on the shaft? These are duo-prop set-ups. Each prop spins a different direction. This provides better "bite".

12) The last time I was at a marina, I saw a powerboat spitting water out of a small hole in the hull. What was that? Probably an automatic bilge pump kicking in pumping water out of the bilge.

13) Is there a water heater for faucets and the shower? These are available options.

14) Am I allowed to drink a beer while piloting the boat (not get drunk obviously). If I'm spotted drinking a beer while at the helm by the authorities, am I in trouble? These laws vary but you should be OK.

15) What are trim tabs? These are used to control the planing angle of the boat or to correct a list. They help the boat get up on plane.

16) What is a bilge / bilge pump? Pumps water out of the "bilge" which is the area the deck (floor) and hull. Water can get in there from rain, people getting in/out of the boat from the water, or small leaks.

18) Where does the water from the sinks and the shower go? I think a holding tank but I'm not a big boat guy/

19) Do boats have normal household ac outlets? Most in that size should be equipped with an inverter to provide household current.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: I've got a ton of newbie questions...

Your looking at a fair sized boat that will cost a few bucks and could get you in a fair amount of trouble.

I suggest you plan to take a Power Squadron course or something similar over the winter. Great course and you will learn a lot that you will need to know on the big lakes.

 

[salty87]

Re: I've got a ton of newbie questions...

that's a serious list, nice work

1 yes, same as car
2 you can get a service similar to AAA if you're in one of their areas (seatow, there are others). or, you can wave someone down and tie a rope. this requires basic safety skills/equipment from both captains/boats.
4 check the weather ahead of time, find shelter, ride it out
5 don't bottom out, a little pointer for ya...always stay floating. get a depth gauge and know where you are at all times.
6 you can if you have to or if it's safe. very deep water is hard to anchor in, takes lots of rope.
8 boating at night is more dangerous, no headlights (kills your ability to see in the dark). go slow, know where you are.
9 depends on the boat. mine is 1 stick, forward to go forward and back for reverse.
10 if you have one, ice chest works too
11 efficiency, looks cool, costs a bunch
12 boats use water for cooling things (engine, generator, a/c...) they have to spit it back out. that was called a thru-hull. boats also take on water from swimmers climbing back in and that water collects and is pumped overboard by the bilge pump.
13 my water heater is my engine, kinda smells a little petroleum-like though
14 drunk driving laws apply, in tx you can have a drink while driving a boat. check local laws.

getting tired....
welcome to iboats, good luck with your boat purchase

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: I've got a ton of newbie questions...

1- Yes you will be in trouble if spotted drinking and driving DONT do it, carries the same penalties as in a car.

2- Take and pass a safe boaters class.

3- That is a lot of boat to start out on, not saying it cant be done but it is a handful even for an experienced skipper.

4- Will this boat be kept on the water or trailered, if trailered you need a stout rig to pull it with.

trim tabs are little flaps on the stern that help the boat plane faster, bilge pump pumps water out of the bilge(floor of engine compartment area). Some boats have lights in the bow but not really intended to be driven at night unless you are very familiar with waterways. Duo prop outdrives are nice especially for a bigger boat with only one engine, they bite alot of water. Unless you have a generator or are plugged into shore power you wouldn't have outlets. Some boats have a water heater some dont. Helm controls are similar to a car but some serve different functions, tilt/trim raises and lowers outdrive, blower turns on bilge blower to vent flammable vapors out of engine compartment, and so on.

I think some time behind the wheel is in order before you need to worry about night driving, anchoring, etc. good luck with it

 

[zach103]

Re: I've got a ton of newbie questions...

2. someone on the water may help you. or paddle in if your not far out. or seatow and boatus.

3. ask oops or john. couple others too.

4 and 5 depend on the stuation.

7 most likely

8 . no headlights but lights to show where the boat is so you don't get hit.

9. depends on your boat. mostly just throttle steering wheel and switches etc

10 fridge will work

11. bilge is the area of theboat where water drains too.. the bilge pump is just like a sump pump . just pumps the water out.. thats the little hole you saw peeing water

13 probably

14 yup its a no no. just like driving a car.

15 trim tabs help the boat level out when you first start out.

20 spare fuses . if a fuse is blown you can tell by looking at it .. the metal piece inside will not be connected anymore

 

[jattea]

Re: I've got a ton of newbie questions...

Thank you all so much for the helpful replies. I just went to Amazon and bought that Chapman book, and I do certainly intend to take a safety course.

Thanks again.

 

[OldePharte]

Re: I've got a ton of newbie questions...

You may want to consider joining BOATUS. You may be able to get cheaper boat insurance and have boat towing coverage.

 

[carpaediem123]

Re: I've got a ton of newbie questions...

WOW, I am glad we are are 900 miles apart. lol

 

[jattea]

Re: I've got a ton of newbie questions...

WOW, I am glad we are are 900 miles apart. lol

Well ya gotta learn somehow, right? Wouldn't you rather be in the water with someone who asks these questions before buying a boat than someone who doesn't?

 

[chrisg]

Re: I've got a ton of newbie questions...

#14 is useless unless # 10 is a yes ( Unless your a Brit)
That size boat, with the price of gas, looks good at the dock and you dont have #14 as an issue.

 

[Five O'Clock]

Re: I've got a ton of newbie questions...

ha... beers are always better in a cooler full of ice rather than a fridge..

lot of questions jattea... i'd almost rather you give me a call so i can tell you with words instead of typing. ha.

 

[capquest]

Re: I've got a ton of newbie questions...

Jettea,

I'm a retired Master Unlimited and teach the USCG Captains Course. My best advise is to spend the money a hire a professional captain in your area to train you aboard your vessel.

Learning the "hard way" is not a good boating experience. You would be surprised how many of my students who are supposed to have enough experience to sit for a charter boat (OUPV) license are totally ignorant of basic maritime procedures.

Get some profeeeional training is the best way to go. IT WILL BE CHEAPER IN THE LONG RUN!

 

[rrhodes]

Re: I've got a ton of newbie questions...

First and formost take a course. There are way too many "Weekend Warriors" That picked up a boat or PWC and believe they are boaters.

These are the ones that don't know what buoys mean and have no idea that you can't create wakes near docks, anchored boats, divers and for the love of god BOAT RAMPS!!

There are laws on right of way as well that can save a lot of accidents. I honestly wish the courses were required here in SC.

Ask plenty of questions and take a couple of test drives before making your mind up. The boats you are looking at are huge and as someone already stated can challenge a seasoned boater. Although boating can be fun and it is a way of life to some it is also very dangerous. Small mistakes can have catastrophic outcomes.